Tuning head for stringed instruments



June 17, 1958 c. L. FENDER TUNING HEAD FOR STRTNGED INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 4, 1955 INVENTOR. 62 APE/vof .FZ-m05@ BY M l Y EG. 4 ATT/),e/yl/ United States Patent Ohce 2,838,974 Patented June 17, 1958 TUNING HEAD FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS Clarence Leo Fender, Fullerton, Calif. Application November 4, 1955, Serial No. 544,957

Claims. (Cl. 84-306) This invention relates to tuning heads for stringed instruments, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a tuning head which is particularly designed for incorporation in an Hawaiian guitar, but which is adaptable to other stringed nistrument.

Second, to provide a tuning head which includes a peg box and tuning peg means which may be assembled into a rigid unit before being mounted in the guitar head.

Third, to provide a tuning head for stringed instruments which may be depended upon to maintain the strings under their adjusted tensions even under adverse condi tions of use.

Fourth, to provide a tuning head of this class wherein the tuning peg handles are readily accessible.

With the above and other objects in View, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top View of an Hawaiian guitar, showing the tuning head with portions shown in section;

Fig, 2 is a fragmentary sectional View through 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig 3 is a transverse sectional view through .33 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is a side View of one of the multiple peg assemblies.

In the exercise of this invention the head 1 of the stringed instrument, for example, an Hawaiian guitar, is provided with a substantially rectangular recess 2. Fitted in the recess 2 is a peg box 3 which is formed of sheet metal.

The peg box 3 includes a marginal flange 4 and is pro vided with substantially vertical side walls 5 which converge toward the extended end of the head, and is also provided with substantially vertical end walls 6 and 7 :Y which wedge tightly into the corresponding end walls of the recess 2.

Centered in the peg box 3 and extending longitudinally is a hollow rib 8 which tapers toward the extended end of the head 1 so as to form, which the confronting side walls 5, channels of uniform width.

The peg box .3 is held in place within the recess 2 by means of screws 9 set in the end portions of the ange 4. Mounted `on opposite sides of the peg box 3, between the walls 5 and the adjacent side walls of the recess 2, are multiple peg assemblies.

Each assembly includes a mounting plate 10 extending the length or the side walls 5. lournaled in the mounting plate and extending through journal apertures in the side walls 5 as well as in the confronting side wall of the rib 8 are string tension shafts 11. The ends of the shafts 11 which protrude through the mounting plate 10 are provided with worm gears 12.

Each worm gear 12 is encased in a rectangular sheet metal housing 13 secured to the mounting plate 1li by lugs 14. Each housing 13 is provided at one end in its upper and lower side walls with journal apertures which receive 2 a peg shaft 15 having a worm 16 at its lower end which meshes with the corresponding worm gear 12. The peg shafts 15 protrude through notches 17 provided in the ilange 4 which terminate in peg handles 18.

Each string tension shaft 11 is provided with a cross hole 19 which receives an end of a musical string 2. Several convolutions of the strings are Wrapped around the shafts 11, and the strings extend from their respective shafts over a nut 21 adjacent the end of the peg box 3. In the structure illustrated, the nut 21 is in the form of a bar having grooves 22 therein to position the strings and is held in place by screws 23.

It will be observed that the entire assembly is held in place by the screws 9 and the walls of the recess so that, upon removal of the peg box 3 from the recess 2, the multiple peg units carried by the mounting plates 10 may be readily removed or replaced without need of additional securing means between the multiple peg units and the frame. Also, by reason of the fact that the peg box 3 is formed in one piece, a particularly rigid frame is provided for the string tension shafts 11 so that the strings can be properly tensioned.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come Within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A tuning head for stringed instruments, comprising: a head structure having a recess therein; a peg box having side and end walls dimensioned to fit within said recess, a marginal ange overlying the margins of said recess, a central longitudinal rib defining with said side walls a pair of channels, and a plurality of journal openings in said rib and side walls; a mounting plate disposed outwardly of each side wall; a series of tensioning units carried by each mounting plate and including peg shafts projecting horizontally therefrom and journaled in said openings; and peg handles projecting upwardly from said tensioning units.

2` A tuning head for stringed instruments, comprising: a head structure having a recess therein; a peg box having side and end walls dimensioned to t within said recess, a marginal ange overlying the margins of said recess, a central longitudinal rib defining with said side walls a pair of channels, and a plurality of journal openings in said rib and side walls; a mounting member disposed outwardly of each side wall; a series of peg tuning devices on said mounting member; and a plurality of peg shafts extending from said turning devices bridging said channels and journaled in said journal openings.

3. A tuning head for stringed instruments, comprising: a head structure having a recess therein; a peg box having side walls and a central rib defining a pair of channels; a mounting member disposed outwardly of each side wall; a series of peg turning devices on said mounting member; and a plurality of peg shafts extending from said tuning devices through said side walls and bridging said channels to receive the strings of a musical instrument, said peg box and mounting members adapted to be fitted within said recess, and the side walls of said recess being adapted to retain said mounting members against the sides of said peg box to retain said peg shafts in place.

4. A tuning head for stringed instruments, comprising: a single piece sheet metal stamping shaped to define a rectangular depressed portion having bottom, side, and end walls, said depressed portion having an integral hollow rib extending along the bottom wall between said end walls to divide said depressed portion into two channels, and a flange surrounding said depressed portion, the sides of said rib and said side Walls having matingT pairs of journal apen tures therein; a mounting plate proportioned for placement along the outer side of; each side Wall; a series of gear units mounted on said mounting plates under said flange; tensioning shafts extending horizontally from said gear units and mounting plates through said apertures so as to traverse said channels; and handle means projecting upwardly from said gear units.

5. A tuning head for stringed instruments, comprising: a single piece sheet metal stamping shaped to dene a rectangular depressed portion having bottom, side, and end Walls, said depressed portion having an integral hollow rib extending along the bottom Wall between said end Walls to divide said depressed portion into two channels, and a ange surrounding said depressed portion, the sides of said rib and said side Walls having mating pairs of journal apertures therein; a pair of mounting plates; and a series of tensioning units mounted on each mounting plate and including horizontally disposed tensioning shafts arranged 69,259 Seehausen Sept. 24, 1867 609,531 Brandt Aug 23, 1898 657,493 Lang Sept. 4, 1900 1,135,347 Bohmann Apr. 13, 1915 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,803 Great Britain of 1898 

